Woman arrested following vehicle theft

CLEARLAKE -- On Tuesday just before 1 p.m., a resident reported the theft of her green 2002 Ford Escort from the 3700 block of Pearl Ave. There was no suspect information at the time of the report.

About an hour later, officers responded to the area of Pomo School, located at 3350 Acacia St, on a report of a reckless suspicious vehicle. The vehicle was described as a green Ford Escort, occupied by several subjects. Officers began checking the area.

A few minutes later, Det. R. Peterson located an occupied green Ford Escort parked near the intersection of Country Club Drive and Arrowhead Road. The vehicle had significant rear-end damage and the license plate was missing. Believing this to possibly be the stolen green Ford Escort, other officers arrived and detained the three occupants at gunpoint. This vehicle was determined to be the stolen vehicle from earlier.

During the course of the investigation, the front right passenger allegedly admitted to stealing the vehicle earlier in the day. She was identified as Janea Armstead, 20, of Clearlake. She was arrested on charges of felony vehicle theft. She was later booked into the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.

The other two occupants, both of whom were children, were cited for misdemeanor reckless driving, driving without a license and daytime curfew violations. Both were released to parents/guardians. It is believed neither of the juveniles knew the vehicle was stolen when they drove it and is why they were not charged with vehicle theft. The case has been submitted to the Lake County District Attorney's Office and to the Lake County Probation Department for charges. The stolen vehicle was returned to the owner.